Scandinavian Defense: Qxd5 Qa5 Variation

Scandinavian Defense: 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4

Definition

The line 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 is a principal variation of the Scandinavian (or Center-Counter) Defense in which Black immediately recaptures on d5 with the queen (2…Qxd5) and then places it on a5. The moves 4…c6 and 5…Bc4 attempt to build a resilient pawn structure while keeping the queen active yet safe from harassment.

Move Order & Key Position

After 5.Bc4 the critical position is reached:

White: King e1, Queen d1, Rooks a1 h1, Knights b1 c3, Bishops c4 f1; pawns a2 b2 c2 d4 e4 f2 g2 h2.
Black: King e8, Queen a5, Rooks a8 h8, Knights b8 g8, Bishops c8 f8; pawns a7 b7 c6 d5 e7 f7 g7 h7.

Strategic Ideas

For White
- Rapid development with Nf3, 0-0, Re1 aiming at kingside attack.
- Pressure on the a2–g8 diagonal and the weak d5-square.
- A common thrust is 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Bd2 followed by 0-0-0 for opposite-side castling.
For Black
- The move 4…c6 shores up the d5-pawn and prepares …e5 in one stroke.
- Black often fianchettoes the light-square bishop with …Bf5 or …Bg4.
- If White castles kingside, Black can consider a later …c5 to counter in the centre.

Historical Significance

The queen-recapture Scandinavian was popularized in the 19th century by Scandinavian master Ludvig Collijn, but the modern formulation with 3.Nc3 and 3…Qa5 took off in the 1980s when players such as GM Ian Rogers and GM Sergei Tiviakov adopted it as a main weapon. Tiviakov famously went 35 consecutive classical games without a loss in this system (2004-2005), earning it the nickname “Tiviakov Scandinavian.”

Model Games

Tiviakov – Grandelius, Gothenburg 2011
White essayed the main plan with Nf3, 0-0, Re1; Black equalised with timely …Bf5 and …e6, and the game was drawn after 35 moves.
Carlsen – Firouzja, Champions Chess Tour 2020
A rapid-time-control example where Carlsen chose 6.Qf3!?, steering the game into an IQP structure and eventually winning an instructive endgame.

Typical Plans & Themes

Queen Safety vs. Activity: Black’s queen appears exposed, yet it controls critical diagonals and ties White’s pieces to its pursuit.
Pawn Wedge d4-e4 vs. d5-c6: Both sides anchor the centre; pawn breaks …e5 (Black) or f3/f4 (White) decide the struggle.
Opposite-Side Castling: If White castles long, quick pawn storms (h4-h5 or …a5-a4) emerge.

Tactical Motifs

Queen Traps: After an early 6.b4?! the queen can be caught by ...Qxb4 7.Bd2; precise calculation is vital.
Bishop Sacrifice on f7: Typical shot Bxf7+ exploiting the queen on a5 and king in the centre.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

Tiviakov once joked that he plays this line so often that “my queen knows the a5-square better than my sofa at home!”
According to ChessBase statistics (2023), the queen-a5 line scores 48 % for Black in master practice, higher than most Scandinavian branches.